Why the hero cop who shot notorious terrorist Man Monis dead could be sent to JAIL if he reveals the truth about what really happened during the Lindt Cafe siege

EXCLUSIVE

The officer who saved lives by taking down an Islamist terrorist nearly a decade ago remains unidentified for legal reasons and could go to jail if he speaks out about what happened.

On December 15 and 16, 2014, Man Horon Monis held 18 hostages at the Lindt Cafe on Martin Place in Sydney during a 16-hour standoff with police.

Monis was armed with a pump-action shotgun, which he used to kill cafe manager Tori Johnson, and said he had a bomb in his backpack.

The man who can only be referred to as Officer A, was part of the Tactical Operations Unit (TOU) Alpha team and shot dead Monis, ending the siege in the early hours of the morning.

Since then, his name has been suppressed without any clear reason ever being given. This has a major impact on his life and worsens his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The officer who saved lives by taking down an Islamist terrorist nearly a decade ago still cannot be named for legal reasons and he desperately wants his name back. A heavily armed police officer is pictured at the scene on December 15, 2014

A hostage is pictured running towards a police officer outside the Lindt Cafe in Sydney on December 15, 2014

“It was started at the coroner’s inquest,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

“It was initially put forward by my legal team… a standard to stop retaliatory attacks.

‘Since then we have made numerous requests to the coroner (Teresa O’Sullivan), who has told us there is nothing she can do.’

His legal team have told him they believe this is incorrect and that the coroner does have the power to take action.

Under the silence order, Officer A faces up to 28 days in jail for each violation of the ban, plus an additional $2,200 fine per violation.

“My thoughts are (the police) don’t want it to come up again,” he said. “They know they made a mistake that day and they just want to shut me up.”

The longer the suppression of his name continues, the more it affects him, and he had to write his book as Officer A, with his name blacked out throughout.

It also prevents him from being able to help others, especially since he had to leave the police force due to PTSD.

“I want to talk to people who have problems similar to mine… first responders and ex-military and just anyone with PTSD,” he said.

“And I believe that with my story and the way I approach PTSD and refuse to let it defeat me, I could help a substantial number of people.

“So not only does it affect me on a personal level, but I believe I could do very well there, and as it stands now, I’m not allowed to.”

Ironically, Officer A had his mandatory routine appointment with a psychologist on the morning of December 15, 2014.

When he returned to the office, two of his TOU colleagues rushed out.

“There’s a counter-terrorism job at Martin Place. Get your things, we’re going now,” the sergeant shouted.

“So it finally happened?” Agent A called back, as he said in his book Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! The Siege of the Lindt Café.

“We all knew this was only a matter of time, especially since the September 11 attacks in the US,” he wrote.

Hours later, before the operation ended the siege, Officer A said he had “resigned himself to the idea that I would never see my wife and daughter again.

“I would never hold the unborn baby that (my wife) was carrying, let alone see the rest of my family and close friends again.”

“I said goodbye as best I could via text messages, without revealing our exact situation.”

He and his fellow officers survived, Monis did not, and lives were saved.

But ten years later, and despite the coronal investigation into the siege having been completed, Officer A’s name is permanently suppressed.

Louisa Hope, one of the survivors who became a friend of his, set up an online petition to pressure the NSW government to let him get his name back.

On December 15 and 16, 2014, Man Horon Monis (pictured) held 18 hostages at the Lindt Cafe on Martin Place in Sydney during a 16-hour standoff with police.

Hostages are pictured holding up a black flag with Islamic script at the Lindt Café in December 2014

The ban on linking his real name to what happened in the Lindt Café ten years ago makes it almost impossible to make new friends, something that is now vital.

‘I am separated and in the process of divorce, which is caused by PTSD. Unfortunately, it’s a common story,” he said.

‘PTSD has affected my life and my battle against it, as well as me and my three daughters. Of course it took its toll on me.’

Officer A has a message for NSW Premier Chris Minns. ‘First of all, why do you keep ignoring my request?

“And secondly, this order that’s in place through the coroner, it looks like the order now stands forever.

‘So as far as I’m concerned, that has to be looked at legally. How can such an order be enforced forever?

“And I’d like him to bring it up.”

Everything related to the law is very expensive, as Officer A well knows.

He added: ‘I think that’s what they think, that if I had to open a whole new inquest, it would cost tens and tens of thousands of dollars…

“I think that’s probably what they think, that I obviously can’t afford to finance that, so I’m just going to leave.”

He wants to make it clear that he has no intention of attacking the NSW Police, he just wants his life back.

“The way I wrote the book, I didn’t really attack the police hierarchy at all,” he said. “I believe that has already happened and it is in the public eye.

“And I think I’ve been very honest in the way I wrote the book, and even acknowledged some of their decisions.

“So it would never be the intention to attack the police hierarchy and the decisions that are made that day. Absolutely not.’

In his Coronial Inquest findings, then NSW State Coroner Michael Barnes wrote: ‘By what standard does one judge a man who demanded to stare down death to save strangers.

“Who dares to say they could have done better.”

All Officer A wants now is the right to use his name again.

People are pictured running out of the Lindt Café with their hands up on December 16, 2014

Paramedics are pictured at work at the end of the siege at the Lindt Cafe on December 16, 2014

Flowers are pictured outside the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney on December 23, 2014

A spokesperson for NSW Attorney General Michael Daley told Daily Mail Australia that ‘the Coroners Court Act 2009 provides the legal framework for the issuance of non-publication orders by the Coroners Court.

‘Generally, non-publication orders are a matter for the parties and the competent court. Anyone seeking to have a non-publication order varied or revoked should seek independent legal advice to consider the specific circumstances of his or her case.

“The Attorney General cannot provide legal advice regarding specific cases,” they said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb were also contacted for this story, but none responded.